Erin’s Top 10 Songs Of 2014 [VIDEO]

In the past couple years, I've guaranteed which song will win the Big BKR Smackdown, but this year, it's probably going to be a photo finish. There were a LOT of good songs this year. Let's take a look, and a listen.

10. Florida Georgia Line "Dirt"

All right, despite their sophomore album Anything Goes being branded with a lot of worst lists, I think the boys produced a really nice ballad that overshadowed their usual "bro-country" tracks. I'd like to point out it's their first ballad and as soon as I heard the lyrics, I thought, "this is gold." I'm hoping Brian and Tyler will seek out and/or write more songs like this in the future.

9. Lee Brice "Drinking Class"

I liked "I Don't Dance" too, but "Drinking Class" is one of those songs that speaks brilliantly to its audience. It's still on the chart and I predict it will be Brice's 5th number one and his first of 2015.

8. Carrie Underwood "Something in the Water"

http://youtu.be/mH9kYn4L8TI

2014, a big year for Underwood. She's expecting her first child, and she put out her first 'Greatest Hits' collection which includes this retro-Carrie hit. There's been speculation on what musical direction Carrie will go in after her first decade. I say the birth of her son may factor in to what she chooses to record from here on. I'll go ahead and give Underwood and Miranda Lambert a shout out/honorable mention here for "Somethin' Bad". I hated it at first, but then it's one of the songs of the past year that I enjoyed the more and more I heard it. The attitude sold it in the end for me.

7. Kenny Chesney "American Kids"

Oh what a fun song this is! Kenny Chesney returned with a new album,'The Big Revival', this year and the lead single "American Kids" took off like a rocket. The imagery of the throw back themes in the song reminds me of his 2002 no. 1 "Young" in which the video echoed John Cougar's "Jack & Diane" clip. Good times!

6. Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill "Meanwhile Back at Mama's"

I've always been a fan of Tim/Faith duets, so I was very happy to hear "Meanwhile Back at Mama's" this year. Okay, it's not a true duet, but it's so good to see these two getting back together in the studio. Of course, I'm still waiting on that big Faith comeback; she cut her hair recently, so maybe we'll hear something new in 2015? Okay, I'm about to cry watching the video again, moving on to my top 5.

5. Little Big Town "Girl Crush"

LBT had another big year. They were invited to join the Grand Ole Opry, they had a  quite the unusual performance with the cast of Tron on the CMA's with Ariana Grande, and they released their sixth album, Painkiller which kicked off with the massive single "Day Drinking" however, I love their newest single "Girl Crush" which was released about two weeks ago. So beautiful, so different, and very bluesy. Bonus video, Kelly Clarkson covering the song in concert last month. Church!

4. Lee Ann Womack "The Way I'm Livin'"

Okay, I used the term "church!" too soon. Although we rarely hear from Lee Ann Womack anymore, in 2014, she put out a new album on a new label and she put out one hell of a country song. "The Way I'm Livin" is in your face, raw emotion, Womack at her best; I hope we hear more from her, again, next year.

3. Sam Hunt "Leave the Night On"

Here's another song I wasn't sold on immediately, but Sam Hunt folks? He's the real deal. On "Cop Car" alone, which he wrote and Keith Urban released as a big hit, I'm impressed with Hunt's songwriting. At first glance, you might think he's another "bro-country" fellow, but I don't think so. There's definitely more going on, and his follow-up single, the recently released "Take Your Time" is helping Hunt make his mark.

2. Eric Church "Talladega"

http://youtu.be/rek_Cxrc1pE

Eric Church's star keeps rising and rising. The Outsiders was critically-acclaimed and the man himself can just flat out deliver a song. "Talladega" is a pure story. Technically, it's still on the charts and I believe it will be his fifth number one.

1. Randy Houser "Like a Cowboy"

Okay, I've said it for days, and now here's my official number one song of the year. Yes, it's literal and the video is literal, but Randy Houser's "Like a Cowboy" is a true country song. What I don't get is how this song did NOT hit the top of the charts. As with many country songs, it can take up to a year of airplay to get it going, and although Houser's masterpiece did crack the top 10, it should've been a number one. And hey, you never know, it might just get enough steam heading into 2015.